Good Morning Friend!
Are you ready to move?
I'm convinced that often time Believers [Christians] can become so complacent and "spiritual" that we almost would have our beliefs seem somewhat fairytale-ish. I grew up in church hearing people saying "child just go lay your hands on it and 'name it and claim it' and its yours!" Seems simple but then they would be quoting "He wont put more on me than I can bear" when the repossession notice came in the mail. You see its wonderful (and vital) to have faith where you see what you want and you verbally claim it...but it cant stop there! You have to put some "do" behind your faith. In May 2006 I decided that I wanted to become more fit and healthy. I had just become tired of the state that I was in physically and how it made me feel mentally. Tired of not being able to fit into my favorite designers anymore. Tired of paying more for my clothes because I was heavier. You know just tired. I began to speak to myself and say "self we are going to loose this weight." Day in and day out I would look at myself in the mirror and speak myself healthier and with less weight. And guess what...the fat went nowhere! It wasn't until I started getting up, walking and jogging, stopped eating all the fast food I wanted (eating late at night and then going to bed) -- and went to my dietitian, got a good, healthy, do-able diet and assistance that I started to see change. It was hard! Boy it was hard! And could you believe the Dr. wanted me to drink a gallon of water a day! Whoa! But the more I put some work into my faith or where I wanted to be (or my goal) the more results I got. Now a little over a year later its easy for me to turn down the wrong foods or eat in moderation, I love drinking my gallon of water a day and I've dropped around 100 lbs (and I'm feeling the best I have in a long time!). (Glory to God!) But in order to get where I wanted to be (although I got a few more pounds still to go) I had to make a MOVE and WORK!
The Webster's dictionary defines the word move as to pass from one place or position to another. To go from one place of residence to another. To advance or progress. Work is defined as exertion or effort directed to produce or accomplish something; labor; toil. Then the academia side of me kicked in and I looked up the word exertion which means vigorous action or effort, an effort, exercise, as of power or faculties. So watch this...our faith (what our belief, hope and confidence is in) is strengthened, fueled and made to come alive when we begin to advance or progress through our exertion or efforts directed to produce or accomplish that which we hope for. Thus, we will at times feel a little tired and weakened through our labor or toil that has made us to exercise the power of our faculties. But we are strengthened when the labor of our hands, mind and soul begins to come to pass! OH MY! I may have to take a break here. Alright I'm back! (SMILE!) When God revealed this to me, it blew me back. Because for so long in the body of Christ we have been taught principals and preached messages that have literally made us weak and complacent. But the word declares that our faith is DEAD unless we get up (MOVE) and work it!
My trusty message translation bible brought it on home for me. James 2:19-20 in The Message Translation bible says it like this: Do I hear you professing to believe in the one and only God, but then observe you complacently sitting back as if you had done something wonderful? That's just great. Demons do that, but what good does it do them? Use your heads! Do you suppose for a minute that you can cut faith and works in two and not end up with a corpse on your hands? WOW! So we see we cannot separate our works from our faith or our faith from our works. Or to work without faith is equivalent to entering into a loosing battle. You will utterly die (or be disappointed, dismayed, depressed and destroyed) if you continue to sit back and have faith on something without putting something into it OR if you try to work something without your faith being totally secured in the Lord!
I want to encourage you this week to MOVE and to continue to WORK that which you are believing God to do for you! Move for me may mean to literally pack up and relocate to a different region. But for someone else it may mean to get up from that place of depression and shame and do something about it! We all must work while its day, because when night comes (or when the savior returns) no man will be able to work. Why not live the best life you can now instead of waiting for the "streets paved with gold." Now don't get me wrong, I'm waiting for that day...because oh what a day that will be! But just like I told one of my friends if I can have mansions and prosperity, purpose and visions, healing and wholeness, love and happiness, peace and joy here on earth...WHY wait till I get to Heaven to experience it. I want ALL of what God said I could have here on this earth! And if you want it you can have it to! GET YOUR INHERITANCE!
Friend, I see you in your future and things look a whole lot better and brighter for you. Furthermore, with all the hell you had to endure to get to this place and space...things just ought to get better! Keep the praises of God in your mouth so that there wont be any room for doubt and negativity! YOU WERE BORN TO WIN!
With Much Love,
Clyde L. Webster
Songs of Encouragement for the Week
1. Take Me Higher (James Shelton & Stephanie Bennett-Pride)
To be featured on the Incredible Worship Recording - November 30th. For more info visit: www.myspace.com/musicbystephpride. See you there!
2. Been Good (Sean Hardin & Obadiah)
In stores now. www.myspace.com/seanhardin. Congrats on the wonderful release concert and the new video! Check it out yall on his myspace page!
3. We Need You (Emanuel Johnson & GIWU)
Single now available! www.myspace.com/emanueljohnsongiwu
4. More Than You'll Ever Know (Myron Butler and Levi)
Hott new CD in stores now!
5. Our Father You Are Holy (Ricky Dillard & New G)
Another hott new CD in stores now!
6. Peace & Love and I still Believe (Marvin L. Winans)
The hottest new CD of the decade…A MUST HAVE! In stores now!
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